Mineral Factbook

Halite

NaClIMA symbol: Hlgrandfathered

Halite is a halide mineral with the formula NaCl, crystallizing in the cubic system. It has a Mohs hardness of 2-5, typically white, red or yellow in color, with a vitreous luster, a specific gravity of 2.1-2.6. Its streak is white.

Photos

Halite specimen photo
Hans-Joachim Engelhardt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Halite specimen photo
Hans-Joachim Engelhardt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Halite specimen photo
Doronenko · CC BY 3.0 · Commons
Halite specimen photo
James St. John · CC BY 2.0 · Commons

Crystallography

Crystal systemcubic crystal systemWikidata (CC0)
Space groupF m -3 m
Cell (Å, °)a = 5.6401, b = 5.6401, c = 5.6401; α = 90, β = 90, γ = 90
Cell volume179.416 ų, Z = 4
Axial ratios1.0000:1:1.0000calculated from COD 9003308
Source structureCOD 9003308 (American Mineralogist, 2004) — 1 of 29 structures

Powder X-ray diffraction (calculated)

2θ (degrees, Cu Kα1)I/I₀ (max 100)
d (Å)2.821.9941.2611.6281.1511.41
I/I₀10065.624.721.218.29.3

xrd-v1: CuKa1 1.5406A, 2theta 5-90, top10, Imax=100, no DW/PO. Computed from COD 9003308; idealized occupancies, no preferred orientation.

Physical properties

Density (calculated)2.164 g/cm³calculated from COD 9003308
Hardness (Mohs)
2single sourceWikidata (CC0)
2-5single sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Specific gravity
2.1-2.6 g/cm3single sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Color
red, white, yellowsingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Streak
whitesingle sourceWikidata (CC0)
Luster
vitreoussingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)

Chemistry (calculated)

Molecular weight58.44 g/molcalculated from the IMA formula
Composition (wt%)Na 39.34%, Cl 60.66%

Classification

Nickel-Strunz (10th)3.AA.20Wikidata (CC0)
Nickel-Strunz (9th)3.AA.20Wikidata (CC0)
Dana (8th)9.1.1.1Wikidata (CC0)